HOUSTON – A man was charged on Monday after being accused of carrying out a warranty deed scam and targeting two properties in River Oaks worth more than $15 million, according to the Harris County Precinct 1 Constable’s Office.
Timothy Willard was charged with first degree felony forgery and aggregate theft greater than $300,000. He also allegedly defrauded his father and sold his property for $100,000.
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Willard was arrested after a year-long investigation. Authorities said he would find properties and forge the signature of the property owners on their warranty deed to buy their property. He would then allegedly sell the property to a fictitious company, which would sell the property to him at a discounted rate.
Constable Alan Rosen said Willard planned to sell the properties under market value. Some of the properties involved in this case just had land an no buildings.
Willard allegedly used this scam to sell his father’s property, and he also received money from one of the other high-end properties because a sale almost went through.
Rosen said Willard could have impacted many people’s lives.
He encouraged residents to be careful with their land.
“Keep an eye on our property. You never know if somebody could be squatting (or) doing an adverse possession on your property, or actively trying to commit fraud to steal it,” Rosen said.
Pct. 1 executed a search warrant at Willard’s home on Monday.